Tripod head with a removable camera support



18, 1949. c CQUTANT ETAL 2,459,642 TREEPOD HEAD WITH A REMOVABLE CAMERA sUi=PORT I Filed March '8, 1947 4 Shets-Sheet 1 IN VENTOH 5 Am dre Ckmen 7 (011742? AT E Y Jan. 18, 1949. A, c. CQUTANT ETAL 4 2,459,626

TRIPOD HEAD WI'IH'A REMOVABLE CAMERA SUPPORT 7 Filed March 8, 1947 '4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOHS Andre C/emfi f (bu/am ATTOHNEY Jan. 18, 1949; A. c. cou'r 'N-r EI'AL I 2,459,626

v TRIPOD HEAD WITH REMOVABLE CAMERA SUPPORT Filed March a, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet :5

IN VENTORS Jdcfge; $74M;

1949. A. c. COUTANT ETAL TRIPOD HEAD WITH A REMOVABLE CAMERA SUPPORT Filed March 8, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTOH/Yf Y Patented Jan. 18, 1949 CAMERA SUPPORT Andr'ClmentlGoutant and :Jaeques;Mathot;..

. Paris, France 1 y Application March a, 1947-;seria1 No; 733,320-

In France March "13," 1946 Forthe taking of cinematographic pictures it is not always convenient to mount the camera on a tripod which-often-can scarcely' if at all be erected at certain places owing to the displacementsjofthe actors or to local-di-fliculties.

The purpose of our invention is to remove these inconveniences by so designing the camera-supporting table that it can be detached easily from the tripod and that the camera can be used immediately thereafter by carrying same in ones arms and contingently resting it on an occasional support; moreover, the said table is provided with means enabling to secure it rigidly to a horizontal or a vertical support occurring on the spot, such as a gate, a door, etc.

This makes it possible without difficulties and time loss to follow agitated scenes and to record all their phases from standpoints at which it would be inconvenient if not wholly impossible to use a tripod.

A particular embodiment of a tripod head with a camera support. according to our invention will now be described by way of example, reference being had to the appended drawing in which:

Figures 1 and 2 are a front and a side elevational view respectively of the tripod head and removable table assembly, parts of them being shown in section.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the table alone.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the tripod head alone.

In this embodiment the head I of the tripod has an annular shape and is formed at the periphery thereof with three bosses '2 for the accommodation of the pintles 3 on which the telescopic legs 4 are hinged.

The table 5 is formed with a cylindrical portion 6 which is snugly fitted in the ring I.

Means are provided on top of the table to support the camera through the medium of a balland-socket joint, for instance similar to the one described in the U. S. patent application filed on December 13, 1946, for A tripod with a ball and socket joint, in the names of the same applicants.

I designates three rests intended to support the ball 8, and 9 denotes a ball-headed bolt serving to press the ball 8 against its rests 1; in this embodiment the pull on the bolt 9 is exerted by means of a bevel-gear set I2 with the aid of a knob I0 keyed to a shaft 1 l.

A slot [3 of sufiicient length is provided in the ring I for the accommodation of the knob l0.

4 Claims. (01. 248F177) The table 5 is provided with twoascrewa clampe ingdevi-cesdesigned torsecu-re the. camera'to some;- occasional support provided; with. substantially vertical. surfaces; the, one. of 1 said clamping de:-

vices comprises, arpai-r; of; horizontal. arms: 'I dcproe jecting from one :sideuof the itabl-eyoneaof saicli armslcarries thesfixed Jaw 1 5' whileethesothera'jawa i6 is carriedriuniversa-lly.onzthe tip of 5a-.-spir-idle== i1: threaded through the other arm; the other clamping device comprises a pair of downwardly extending arms 18 one of which carries the fixed jaw l9 while the other jaw 20 is carried universally on the tip of a spindle 2| threaded through the otherarm. With the aid of the last-mentioned device it is possible not only to secure the table 5 (detached from the head I) to any suitable support, e. g. a fence, but also to lock it to the annular table I by clamping a cradle 22 rigid with said head between the jaws l9 and 20.

It will be appreciated that the camera-carrying table 5 can be detached and removed instantaneously from the tripod head by loosening of the screw 2| so that the camera together with the table 5 to which same is attached can be carried in ones arms or secured readily to the edge of a door leaf or to some other support that may be available depending on the local possibilities.

Likewise, the clamping device comprising the horizontal arms I4 can be detached instantaneously from the tripod head due. to the provision of a slot 23 and a spring-loaded pusher 24, whereby manipulating the camera becomes still easier.

Of course, the particular arrangements concerning the telescopic legs, the means for hinging, adjusting and locking the camera may be varied without departing from the scope of the invention; likewise, the means for locking the table 5 on the ring I may be replaced by equivalent quickly detachable means.

What we claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination of an annular tripod head formed with three peripheral bosses for the hinging of the legs with a circular camera-supporting table adapted to rest removably'on said head, means to secure a camera on said table and fastening means adapted to secure said table on occasional supports and comprising pairs of parallel arms rigid with the'table and a clamping screw threaded through one arm in each pair.

2. The combination of an annular tripod head formed with three peripheral bosses for the hinging of the legs with a circular camera-supporting table adapted to rest removably on said head, means to secure a camera on said table, a pair of downwardly projecting arms rigid with the table, a screw threaded through one of said arms cooperating with the other arm to clamp some occasional support therebetween, another pair of horizontally extending arms removably secured to the table and a screw threaded through one of said arms cooperating with the other arm to clamp some occasional support therebetween. 3. The combination of an annular tripod head formed with three peripheral bosses for the hinging of the legs with a circular camera-supporting table adapted to rest removably on said head, means to secure a camera on said table, a pair of downwardly projecting arms rigid with the table, a screw threaded through one of said arms cooperating with the other arm to clamp some occasional support therebetween, another pair of horizontally extending arms removably secured to the table, a screw threaded through one of said arms cooperating with the other arm to clamp some occasional support therebetween and a downwardly extending projection on said head adapted to be clamped between one of the aforesaid downwardly projecting arms and the screw'threaded through the other arm.

4. The combination of an annular tripod head formed with three peripheral bosses for the hinging of the legs with-a circular camera-supporting table adapted to rest removably on said head, three upwardly extending projections provided on the table at equal angular distances about the centre thereof, a ball-headed bolt arranged in coaxial relation to the table, means to move said bolt as desired with respect to the latter for the purpose of pressing the camera support on said projections and fastening means adaptedto secure said table on occasional supports and comprising pairs of parallel arms rigid with the table and a clamping screw threaded through REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Number Soresi Dec. 28, 1915 

